The Pipili police on Sunday arrested a hundred of locals who were holding a meeting demanding shifting of the Jaishapatana tollgate on Bhubaneswar-Puri Road near Pipili.
The locals led by High Court lawyer and human rights activist Nishikant Mishra staged the demonstration near the tollgate under the banner of the Pipili Toll Gate Action Committee.
Notably, the tollgate started fee collection from vehicles from Saturday midnight even though people from Kakatpur, Nimapada and Pipili area have been demanding shifting of the tollgate from Jaishapatana and toll-free passage for local area vehicles and regular commuters.
“Thousands of people are commuting on the NH 316 (Bhubaneswar-Puri Road) to go to their work places at Cuttack and Bhubaneswar and for business purposes. If toll fee will be collected, not only locals but also people from far places like Nimapada and Kakatpur will suffer a lot. The tollgate should be shifted from the present spot at the earliest,” demanded protestors. Regarding arrest, Pipili police station IIC Jadunath Jena said protestors were arrested as a preventive measure for possible untoward incidents.